Electric-battery jar and pdethod of insulating the same



(No Model.)

I. D. FULLER. ELECTRIC BATTERY JAR AND METHOD OF INSULATING THE SAME.

Patented Aug. 26, 1884.

Ii .1- Z J rrnn ra'rns ISHAM D. FULLER, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OFONEHALF TO GREEN J ."F OREAORE, OF NEWARK, OHIO.

ELECTRIC-BATTERY JAR AND METHOD OF INSULATING THE SAME.

FJPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 304,265, dated August26, 1884.

Application filed January 3, 1884.

To coZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISHAM D. FULLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, haveinvented certain newand useful Improvements in Electric-Battery Jars andMethods of Insulating the Same; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

' My invention relates to electric batteries, and has for its object theformation of the battery-jar and the insulation of the same.

Heretofore great inconvenience and impairment of the energy and life ofelectric batteries have resulted from the escape from the battery ofthat element commonly known as climbing salts, generated by bringinginto the presence of each other in the battery-jar zinc, copper,sulphate of copper, and water, which element settles on the externalsurface of the jar in the form of a whitish deposit, with which allelectricians are familiar.

Various methods have been practiced with the view of preventing, or atleast checking or reducing, the escape of such deposit. The jars havebeen closed, they have been waxed, and they have been greased, and whileto some extent the formation of the deposit on the exterior surface hasbeen checked, still heretofore more or less of such deposit has beenmade. After many experiments I have at last succeeded in veryeffectually preventing the escape and settling of such deposit on thejar. My invention not only prevents the deposit from being made'on theoutside of the jar, but in consequence it prolongs the life orusefulness of the zinc, the copper, and the sulphate of copper. employedin such batteries, and also increases the power of the currentgenerated, and also destroys or prevents from being evolved thedisagreeable odors heretofore experienced. Such results are reached byenveloping the jar in a suitable insulatingenvelope which retains withinthe jar that element which otherwise would escape and form the depositon the exterior surface of the jar, and which would gradually make itsway to other parts. This insulating-envelope also (No model.)

maintains such a uniform temperature that will prevent the jar fromfreezing, whereby the chemical action of the battery is mainprovidedwith means for introducing the sulphate of copper into it below the topthereof, so as not to agitate the liquid within the same or disturb thecurrent. The liquid used can be introduced through the same opening, orwithdrawn therefrom, if necessary, by means of a syringe.

Inthe accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section through myimproved jar.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the jarin operative condition. Fig. 3is a plan view. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a jar of ordinaryconstruction with my addition applied thereto. Fig. 5 is a similar viewshowing the same parts in operative condition, and Fig. 6 a plan Viewthereof.

To carry out my method of insulation to the best. advantage, Iconstruct, in any manner well known to glass-makers, a jar, A, with anouter casing or shell, B, of some suitable nonconducting material, thesame as the jar proper, for instance, of glass, so as to form a space,a, between the bottom and sides of the two vessels, and close the spaceat the top of the two vessels ,by a bridge, I), in which is formed anaperture, 0 (to be closed by a suitable stopper,) for the introductionof the material G, forming the insulating-envelope, sufficient quantityof said material being introduced to fill the space a. The materialwhich I have found suitable for the purpose is the ordinary kerosene orcoal oil of commerce. This oil I have used and found to effectuallyprevent the escape of the element which forms the deposit when otheroils or oleaginous and other substances employed have failed. The oilmay be used in any quantity found sufficient for the purpose; but I haveproduced perfectly satisfactory results by using a body of oil from aneighth to a quarter of an inch in thickness. Besides filling the spacebetween the two vessels, I cover the top of the fluid in the batterywith the oil to the extent of, say, half an inch, although this may bevaried in quantity, the same as in enveloping the sides and bottom ofthe inner jar. By thus enveloping the jar containing the water, zinc,copper, and sulphate of copper the deposit on the jar heretoforeexperienced is prevented, the properties essential to the electricalcurrent are retained within the jar, and hence a stronger and moreregular current produced and maintained, and the battery is kept up at amuch smaller consumption of material, and hence at less expense,'oneattendant can take care and charge of more batteries, and there is noliability of the battery freezing, since the latent heat within the oilthat keeps it from freezing also prevents the battery which is envelopedin the oil, from freezing.

In order to disinfect the oil and check its evaporation, and to preventthe formation of the sediment that otherwise will form, I add to the oilabout one-tenth or one-eighth of its volume of Darby s prophylacticfluid-a compound well known to the public, and especially to chemistsand druggists. When the water 'or sulphate of copper is introduced intothe battery through the top of the jar in renewing the battery, theliquid within the battery is much agitated and the current materiallyand seriously disturbed. In order to overcome that difficulty, I formthe jar with I a spout or tube, 0, the same preferably being made as apart of the jar and its casing, and communicating with the inner jarintermediate of its two ends, preferably about midway, and openingupwardly at the outside. By providing the jar with this spout or tube Iam able to introduce the water and sulphate of copper into the jar verygently by means of a syringe, so as to prevent agitating the liquid, asheretofore, and disturbing the current. I am also by the same meansenabled to introduce the sulphate of copper in a liquid form, and towithdraw it, if necessary, so as to thereby regulate the supply orquantity of the sulphate of copper, and to bring it and keep it withinsuch proximity to the zinc as to effect the best working of the battery.I have observed that the best results are produced when the sulphate ofcopper is kept within about three-quarters of an inch of the zinc. Theliquid of the battery that stands in the spout or tube 0 is covered toabout the extent of half an inch with the oil, or mixture of oil andDarby s fluid, so as to prevent the foaming of the battery at thatpoint.

In applying my invention to batteries already in use I provide an outer.casin g or shell, B, of sheet metal or other (suitable material, andform on its inside a series of vertical ribs, d, which extend nearly tothe bottom" of the casing, and also form on its bottom three or moreradial ribs, (1, extending from near the sides of the casing to near thecenter of the bottom, so as to leave spaces or openings for the passageof the insulating material between the casing and the jar A, which is ofordinary construction and set inside the casing. The space between thejar and casing is filled with the kerosene or coal oil, or the samemixed with Darbys fluid, which is also placed on top of the liquid inthe jar, in the same manner as applied in the preferred form of batteryalready described.

The shell B is formed with a recessed lip, e, to receive the hook of thezinc D, which is suspended in the usual manner. When the hooked end ofthe zinc fits within the lip c, it is free from contact with themetallic shell or casing.

The battery last described is thoroughly insulated,-so as not to freeze,and so as not to allow the deposit to be made, the same as the preferredform first described, in which form, however, the oil will not evaporateas in the last form.

The battery is provided with the zinc D, the corrugated copper ribbon E,and the other necessary attachments of an electric battery.

I do not herein claim the construction of battery illustrated in Figs.4, 5, and 6, as the same will form the subject for a separateapplication.

The kerosene or coal oil may be applied to seal the top of the jar,instead of being alsoapplied to its side and bottom, so as to preventfoaming from the mouth of the jar; but when applied to the side andbottom as well as to the top freezing as well as foaming is prevented.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claimis 1. A battery-jar inclosed within a shell or casing, forming a chamberabout the jar closed at the top, and having an orifice for establishingcommunication with said chamber for the introduction of materials intothe same, substantially as set forth.

2. A battery-jar provided with a tube or spout at its side communicatingwith the interior of the jar intermediate of its ends for theintroduction of materials below the surface of the jar, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

3. A battery-jar inclosed within a shell or casing, forming a chamberabout the jar to receive an insulating material, and provided with atube or spout at its side communicating with the interior of the jarintermediate of its ends for the introduction of matter into the jarbelow its surface, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an electric battery, an insulating-covering of kerosene or coaloil to the surface of the liquid in the jar, to seal the jarand preventthe deposit on the outside of the jar, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

5. In an electric battery, an insulating-covering of kerosene or coaloil and Darbys prophylactic fluid to the surface of the liquid in thejar,to seal the jar and prevent the deposit on the outside of the jar,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an electric battery, an insulating-covering of kerosene or coaloil enveloping the sides and bottom of the jar, and a covering of thesame oil to the surface of the contents of the jar,to seal the jar andprevent the deposit on the outside of the jar, and also freezing of thebattery, substantially as set forth.

7. In an electric battery, an insulating-covering of kerosene or coaloil and Darbys prophylactic fluid enveloping the sides and bottom of thejar, and a covering of the same com- ISHAM D. FULLER.

Witnesses:

FRANKLIN H. HOUGH, W G. HENDERSON.

